I am thinking about getting a carbon 29'er with rigid fork. Just for gravel paths and some mild single track. Questions.

I have pretty much all of the component that I need save the wheels and frame/forks. I am currently running XX derailleurs, shifters and cassette, will buy some new XX brakes, Syntace stem, Easton bars and Thomson post.

I am unsure of the gearing and what wheels to get.

Frame can be bought in BB30 or BSA - I currently have 2 cranks (44t/30t Extralite on carbon cranks and 32t carbon spiderless ring on carbon cranks) I am willing to sell both cranks to buy a BB30 set up but is it that much better?

Wheels - I was thinking of getting some Stan's No Tubes Crest ZTR 29er wheelset which would mean having to get some new tires as well. Any thoughts on tires?

Everything else is sorted out for components. and I will run the stem negetive to lower the front end a bit.

I like both Continental Race Kings and the much lighter Rocket Ron's. Keep in mind that they work well with the soil conditions of the Midwest. With your back issues are you looking at a low rise wider bar? (Probably a good idea) If you have serious climbs a 11-34 or 11-36 might be the way to go. I'm not going to be much help on cranks since I ride XT with a ceramic bottom bracket converted to pulley use.

Bear in mind you will need a approx 4 tooth smaller chainring on a 29er to get the same ratios as a 26er with the same cassette. I generally used a 36t or 38t single ring on my 26er race bike but 32t or 34t on the 29er. Its suprising how many don't work out the difference needed!

Thanks for the heads up as that will allow for a cheaper set up with not a bad weight penalty. I am still very unsure about going 32t front only or going with a 2 X 10 set up. 1 X 10 set up would most likely stick with thumb shifters but if I go 2 X 10 then I am going grip shift for sure.

Carbon-Ti also do a spiderless double set up for most of the new spiderless cranks too. Pretty cheap/light way to 'bling-up' SRAM cranks. The S-Works cranks fit the Lightning 104/64 spider which weighs less than pretty much all the Spec. versions and lets you run normal rings without much of a weight penalty also.

Well nothing is going to happen unless I can sell the PF MT frame in the classifieds as well. Until such time, I have to just look. If that does not sell then I will buy the Trigon Carbon fork and just keep the bike and stick with 26" which is not what I want to do. I think if I am going to stick with full rigid that it would be better to move up to 29" and have a higher front end for my back.

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